Hog-scalding machine.



No. 759,529. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

T. E. JONES.

HOG- SGALDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Mme, 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 sums-sum 1.

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I? L m fer, 259?? my r zi No. 759,529. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

T. E. JONES.

HOG SGALDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 1903. no MODEL. z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W k $11 0 m z ys Patented May 10, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. JONES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

noe-s'oA ome MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,529, dated May 10, 1904. Application filed Merrill 9, 1903. Serial No- 146,972. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern: 3

Be itknown that I, THOMAS E. Jones, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at'Qhicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new anduseful HogrScalding Machine, of which the following isa speci- V flcation. 1

This invention relates to hog-scalding devices such as are usually employed in packing-houses and the like for the purpose of conveying the slaughtered hogs throughthe scalding-tank.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide means whereby the hogs may be carried through the scalding-tank in an upright position instead of being, as has been customary heretofore, dragged lengthwise or sidewise through the tank, the result being that the entire carcass will be more thoroughly submerged and subjected to the action of the scalding-water.

- Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby hogs that after passing through the scalding-tank are found to be l'lQtl thoroughly scalded may be left suspended in said scalding-tank until the operation of scalding is thoroughly completed.

WVith these and other ends in ,view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts and structural details, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed ou in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a scalding-tank and de vices associated therewith constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of thescalding-tank enlarged. Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is an enlarged sectional detail view of the rear end of the scalding-tank and the lower end of the scraper.

, Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar numerals of reference.

In carrying out my inventionl first' provide a scalding-tank 1 of suitable construction, said tank being comparatively narrow and high, the height being such as to amply accommodate a hog suspended therein. One end of said tank is preferably slightly inclined, and

it has a more abruptly inclined portion 2 connected therewith and serving as a chute to guide the hogs into the tank. The upper end of the chute 2 connects with the floor-3 above where the sticking-bar is located.

4 designates an endless carrier consisting of a chain the links of which are provided at intervals with hooks 5, said chain being supported, by means of sprocket-wheels 6 and 7 in such a position that it shall be parallel, or

approximately so, to the chute or incline 2. Another similar]y-constructed endless carrier consisting of a chain 8, having hooks 9 disposed at intervals thereon, is supported upon sprockets 10 and' 11, the former of which is in proximity to the scraping-machine 12,

.while the latter is located closely adjacent to the sprocket 6 at the lower end of the endless carrier 4:. The carrier 8 is disposed a short distance above and parallel to the scaldingtank and is thus at an angle to the inclined carrier 4.

13 is the power-shaft, which carries a the direction of thescraper.

sprocket 14:, driving the chains 4: and 8, which by this arrangement are driven in the same direction that is, with their lower passesin A track-bar 15 is supported directly beneath the carriers 4 and 8, said track-bar being bent at an angle, as shown at 16, so-as to cause it to lie parallel to both of said carriers.

Said track-bar is connected at 'its upper end with the sticking-bar 17, and its lower portion is extended into the scraping-machine, where it is provided with a loop or depending curved portion 18. he track-bar 15 is supported in the usual manner by means of rods 19, so ar ranged as not to interfere with the carrier.

The sides of thescalding tank or vat are provided with bearings fora transverse shaft 20, which is disposed near the inclined front end of said tank, and near the rear end of the stubs tankapproximately below the front side of the.scraping-machine are disposed a pair of The shaft 20 and stubs 20 carry sprocket-wheels disposed adjacent to the sides of the tank and designated 21. A pairof endless chains 22, connecting said sprocketw wheels, are connected atintervals by cross-liars 23, which are preferably provided with a curved portion 24, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Power is to be applied to the shaft in such a manner as to cause the upper pass of the endless carrier formed by the chains and cross-bars to travel in the direction of the scraping-machine. The inclined portion or chute 2, leading to the front end of the tank, is provided with an apron 25, extending downwardly into the tank above and beyond the shaft 20 and the sprocket carried thereon and terminating directly above the endless carrier.

Suitably disposed in the scalding-tank approximately below the rear side of the scraping-machine is a standard 26, carrying at its upper end a reel 27, the outer ends of the arms of which are provided with hooks 28. These hooked ends extend approximately under and in proximity to the looped portion 18 of the end of the track-bar 15 within the scraping-machine. The latter, which may be supported upon the tank, but which as regards its detailed construction forms no part of my present invention, is provided with an endless carrier comprising a pair of chains 29, connected at intervals by cross-bars and running over sprocket-wheels 31, supported at the upper and lower ends of the scrapingmachine frame. The cross-bars 30 are provided with centrally-disposed loops or indentations 32 to engage the means by which the hogs are suspended, as will be presently described. V

33 designates an inclined track-bar with its receiving end suitably disposed within the casing of the scraper. This track-bar receives the hogs after they pass through the scrapingmachine and carries them ready for gutting in transit to the chill-room runs.

34 designates a spreader which I find it convenient to use in connection with my invention. This spreader consists of two members 35 and 36, pivotally connected at 37 and one of said members 36 having a ratchet member 37 pivotally connected therewith and adapted to be engaged bythe extended end 38 of the member 35. The members 35 and 36 are provided at their outer ends with oppositely-extending pointed arms 39, adapted to engage the links of the shafts 40, whereby the hogs are suspended so as to spread the legs apart. This device is applied at the time the hog leaves the scraping-machine. It will be readily seen how by this device the legs may be spread apart with any desired degree of tension, the extended end 38 of the member 35 forming a handle by means of which the requisite pressure may be brought to bear before the said handle end is placed in engagement with one of the ratchets of the member 37. The shackles 40 are provided at their upper ends with double hooks, as will be seen at 41.

In the operation of this device the hogs pass from the sticking-bar down the inclined portion of the track-bar 15, the chute 2 serving to guide them toward the entrance of the scalding-tank. The apron 25 here performs an important function in protecting and preventing interference or entanglement with-that portion of the endless carrier which is locatedat the front end of the scalding-tank. While the hogs are in downward transit upon the inclined portion of the track-bar 15 the double hooks 41 are supported by one of their hook members upon the track-bar, while the other hook member is engaged by one of the hooks 5 upon the endless carrier 4, which serves in this instance rather to retard the downward movement of the hogs into the tank, which movement should be at no greater speed than the carrier is run. As the hogenters into the tank it is engaged by one of the cross-bars 23 of the endless carrier 22, the curved portion 24 of said cross-bar exercising a pushing action upon the carcass, which slides down and is suspended between two of said cross-bars. The momentum, assisted by the endless carrier 22, carries the hog along the curved portion 16 of the track-bar until the supportinghook 41 is engaged by one of the hooks 9 of the carrier 8, whereby the hog is carried, still assisted by the carrier 22, in an upright position through the tank entirely submerged in the scalding-water. It is obvious that the carriers of the device should be run at approximately the same rate of speed. When the rear end of the endless carrier 22 is reached, the hog slips from between the cross-bars of said carrier, while the momentum carries the supportinghook over the short remaining portion of the track-bar 15 and lands it in the loop or depressed portion 18 of saidcross-bar. When this point has been reached and it is found that the hog has not been sufiiciently scalded, it is simply lifted off the loop 18, andthe supporting-hook 41 is caused to engage the hook 28 at the end of one of the arms of the reel 27 whereby it is enabled to be swung out of the way without a moments interruption and to be restored to the loop portion 18 of the track-bar as soon as the scalding has been finished. It is also obvious that several hogs may be thus temporarily suspended without interfering with the steady progress of the work. The endless carrier 29 of the scrapingmachine automatically receives the hogs from the supporting-loop 18 by the looped portions 32 of the cross-bars 30 of said carrier engaging the free members of the double supportinghooks 41. The hogs having passed through the scraper are delivered on their downward passage to the trolleys (indicated by 50) upon the track-bar 33, which said trolleys are manually placed in position upon the said trackbar and caused to engage the hook members of the double hook 41, which are temporarily free. As soon as this engagement has taken place the hogs are started on the downward run along the inclined bar 33.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed,

the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

The construction of the device is extremely simple, and it possesses advantages over the devices of this class now ordinarily employed which will be readily appreciated. Such hogs as are known as floaters and which by existing devices it has been difiicult or impossible to entirely submerge m the scalding-tank are their transit through found to have been incomplete, the reel 27 provides a means whereby the hog may be retained in the scalding-tank for the short time which is necessary to complete the operation. the hogs from the scalding-tank and their passage through the scraper is accomplished automatically, scraper to the transit-bar 33. There are but few parts to the device and none that are liable to get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A hog-scalding device comprising a scalding tank, suspending and carrying means above the tank, and means movable in said tank for engaging the hogs and cooperating with said carrying means to maintain the same in an approximately upright position during transit through said scalding-tank.

2. In a hog-scalding device,a scalding-tank, an endless carrier submerged therein, said carrier being provided with means for engaging the hogs in an approximately vertical position and maintaining them submerged, and means for supporting the hogs during transit through the tank.

3. In a hog-scalding device, ascalding-tank, a carrier disposed above and approximately parallel to said tank, an inclined carrier connected with said horizontal carrier, endless chains within the tank, and spaced cross-bars connecting the said chains for engaging the hogs and. cooperating with said carrying means to maintain them submerged in an approximately upright position during transit through the tank.

4:- A hog-scalding device comprising a scalding-tank, an inclined chute at the front end of the same, endless carriers disposed above and approximately parallel to said tank and chute, supporting means disposed below said endless carriers and having a curved portion reaching the angle, endless chains within the scaldingtank, rotary supporting means for said chains, and cross-bars connecting the latter for engaging the hogs and cooperating with said carrying means to maintain them submerged in an approximately upright position during their transit through the tank.

5. In a hog-scalding device, a scalding-tank, hog SUPpOIlDlDg' and carrying means above said The removal of j as well as the delivery from the tank, endless chains within said tank having connecting-bars for engaging the hogs and cooperating with said carrying means to maintain them submerged in an approximately upright position during transit through the tank, rotary supporting means for saidchains, and an inclined apron at the front end of said tank, said apron being extended downwardly and rearwardly over the front supporting means of the chains within the tank.

6. In a hog-scalding device, a scalding-tank, a carrying device submerged within said tank and comprising a pair of chains traveling over sprockets and connected by cross-bars, an inclined apron at the front end of the tank extending above the front end of said carrier, and means for suspending the hogs during transit through the tank.

7. In a hog-scalding device, an endless carrier submerged in the scalding-tank and comprising a pair of chains, sprockets for the same, and transverse connecting-bars having portions curved between the chains to engage the carcasses of the hogs. J

8. In a hog-scalding device, a scalding-tank,

an endless carrier submerged within said tank being extended over the front end of the end-- less carrier.

9. In ahog-scalding device, ascalding-tank, hog-engaging means within said tank to assist in maintaining the hogs in an approximately upright position, supporting means for the hogs disposed above said tank and having a ing nieans coacting with said supporting means and also cooperating with the hog-engaging means within the tank, and supporting means within the tank to which the hogs may be temporarily transferred when passing from engagement with the engaging means within the tank. I

10. In a hog-scalding device, a scalding: tank, an endless carrier within the same, a supporting track-bar above said tank, and supporting means within the tank to which the hogs may be temporarily transferred, said supporting means being disposed near the tcrminal end of said track-bar.

11. In a hog-scalding device, a scaldingtank, movable means within said tank adapted to engage the hogs and to assist in retaining them submerged in an upright position, means for guiding and for supporting the hogs during transit through the tank, said means comprising an endless carrier cooperating with the hog-engaging means within the tank, and a track-bar having a looped portion near its terminal end, and an upright disposed within the tank and having at its upper end-a reel, the arms of which are provided with hooks adapted to be placed in proximity to the looped portion near the terminal end, carrylooped portion of the track-bar which forms the supporting means.

12. In a hog-scalding device, a scaldingtank, means for supporting the hogs and for carrying them through said tank in an approximately upright position, a scraping-machine disposed above the rear end of the scalding-tank, a loop formed upon that portion of the terminal end of the supporting-bar Which extends into the casing of the scraper, and an endless carrier Within the latter having crossbars adapted to receive the hogs from the terminal end of the supporting-bar and to carry them through the scraper.

13. In a device of the class described, a scalding-tank, a scraping-machine disposed above said tank near its rear end, a track-bar arranged above and approximately parallel to the scalding-tank and having its terminal end extended into the scraper and provided With a dented portion forming a loop, means for supporting the hogs upon said track-bar, said supporting means being provided with double hook members, movable means Within the tank for maintaining the hogs While passing through the same in an approximately carrying the hogs in upright position, said carrying means-terminating directly in front of the looped portion of the supporting-bar, and an-endless carrier Within the scraper having cross-bars With looped central portions adapted to engage the free hook members of the supporting devices.

14. In a device of the class described, a scalding-tank, a scraper disposed above and near the rear end of said tank, means including hog-engaging means Within the tank for an approximately upright position through the scaldingtank, means for automatically transferring the hogs from said carrying device to the endless carrier of the scraping-machine, and means for automatically transferring the hogs from said endless carrier to a track-bar leading to the gutting and chill room runs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS E. JONES.

Witnesses:

E. WELSH, J. A. COLE. 

